Leaving tomorrow for the Magic!!

[TxKitten]

I leave tomorrow for my first trip to Disney World in 24 YEARS!!! Good LORD! That's too long!

Even though I just joined this board today...I've been watching silently and picking up a lot of great tips from you guys...you have no idea how grateful I am for all this great advice!!

I am a photographer as well as a serious Disney NUT! So I've been frantically practicing and studying this and a couple other forum boards for the best tips and a bit of a "head start" on some better pictures than I could have ever hoped for.

I am taking my Nikon D80 with a 18-135mm lens (the only zoom I have at the moment) also lugging along a 50mm f1.8 lens, mono pod, tripod (locker bound for most of the days, but there when I need it) as well as plenty of memory cards (1~8G / 2~4G / 3~2G) and battery packs. I'm leaving the SB800 at home, just because I plan on concentrating on available light and just don't want to hassle with the external flash for just the very limited things it would come in handy for anyway. I am however going to use the pop up flash with a slight modification and will let you know how that works out. The modification includes one of those white/frosted film canisters cut on one side to allow it to slide over the pop up flash. A very conveient, cheap, easy to use diffuser that I think will be just fine for the few situation I will actually need flash for. I hope!

I DO have one question for those in the know...I've seen a LOT of tips for fireworks, and am ready for the challenge...I have high hopes...and even practiced on the fireworks that they display here after home baseball games at the downtown stadium (Go 'Stros!!!) So I think I'm set for the actual technique...but I need the best spot to stand. I saw some videos on YouTube for the Wishes fireworks show, and one of them was taken from RIGHT in front of the castle, and honestly...you couldn't really see a whole lot till the end of the show. Then another angle looked MUCH better...it seems to be off a little to the left...maybe over in Liberty Square?? Or even back at the Railroad Station platform a little further back even looked better than near the Partners statue.
Am I right? Could these locations be better than the Partners statue area or "Hub" as I beleive it's called?

If anyone happens to know or have some better ideas...it would be really helpful...and of course any other tips that you think I could use...PLEASE do not hesitate...I don't think I can be too prepared!

Take care and thanks again for all your helpful tips and advice...I intend on sharing all I can to show my appreciation for the great pictures I know I'm going to get.

Sincerely,
Brenda Laird
Houston, TX

 

[Suburbanmom]

First off....CONGRATULATIONS on going to Disney World. Your excitement is coming through loud and clear. It sounds like you are ready to tackle it photographically, so please come back and share some photos with us. We are all junkies.

To give you an idea of where to stand for fireworks:

I stood right outside the bakery and as close to the center of street as I could. I made my husbad and 2 sons stand in front of my tripod until the fireworks started and for most of the show, that helped minimize the number of people directly in front of me. As the show went on, I did have a dad with kid on shoulders drift into my shot.

Nikon D50; ISO 200; 24-70mm at 26 mm; f/11; 3.4 seconds
I had a nice wide view of the castle from here and don't believe I cropped much at all except to straighten the horizon.

 

[skr8pn]

My favorite spot for fire works is a "trash pod". If you stake out a trash can ahead of time you can set the tripod up on the trash can and at least know that nobody will be standing directly in front of you. People won't resort to guarding both sides of a trash can and you'll have the other side covered! If you get the tripod up you can put it above everybody's heads. I like the spot on the corner in front of the icecream place or Casey's corner. With no doubt at all, there will be a little one on the sholders waving a colorful wand that will end up in some pics but all in all this works pretty well for me. I use a remote and leave the neck strap around my neck. After all, you've got some serious cash being supported on a trash can! As far as settings your on your own, I'm still trying to figure that out too.

 

[skr8pn]

....As the show went on, I did have a dad with kid on shoulders drift into my shot.

Thats too funny. I was typing at the same time. Imagine, kids at Disney! What are they thinking!


FYI, I'd take the flash with me at bare minimum, at least to have it with you. It will probaby be my next purchase and night time potraits are just awesome IMPO. There is some cool stuff you can do over at the haunted mansion with your own flash. Maybe don't carry it with you but I'd take it and have it in the room in case you get inspired.

 

[Gdad]

Right behind the Partners statue is a nice place- between it and the castle. Here is one at 28mm (FX- 18mm on a D80)

 

[IndyShutterbug]

Gdad, the Castle looks very sharp! Great capture.

 

[NLD]

To the left of the castle towards Liberty Square is NOT a good spot for actually seeing the fireworks, let alone photographing them. See the trees to the lefthand side of Gdad's picture (above)? They will be in the way.

Trust me on this... we just recently got back from our first trip and for various reasons (kid, ahem, husband, ahem) shooting fireworks just didn't work out for me. I tried the last night on the fly from that Liberty Square area and was sooooo sad about the trees hiding those fireworks.


ETA: Found an example.... taken from near the Sleepy Hollow (think that's what it was called?) refreshment stand, in a little area of picnic tables.

 

[Evad]

Congrats on your upcoming trip and also welcome to the boards!!!! Please post your results when you get back, we would all love to see them.
I have a D80 as well and would love to see how it does. Have fun!!!!